Podiatry Experts

Parents so often worry about their kid's teeth, eyes, and most other parts of the body, but don't get worried so much over the growing feet. As numerous adult foot conditions can have their beginnings when people are young, consideration to shoes in children can minimize the risk of these problems in adults.

Significance of the shoe to the child:
Improperly fitting kid's shoes can cause many conditions in adults such as hammer toes, ingrown toe nails, foot corns, calluses and bunions. Because of the high level of pain and discomfort that these disorders can cause, it is obviously sensible to attempt to prevent these conditions by making sure that the child's shoe is fitted appropriately. Foot problems in kids are usually avoidable.

Fitting shoes for the child:
The most crucial factor in footwear for a kid is that they fit. Preferably, this means that shoes are fitted by somebody who has had some special education in the fitting of children's shoes.

Guidance for the fitting of a child's shoes:
* Kids should have their feet measured around every three months (thus ensuring the need for new shoes if required).
* Generally, for a shoe to be accurately fitted, there ought to be a thumb width between the end of the shoe and the end of the longest toe.
* When viewing the bottom (sole) of the footwear, it ought to be somewhat straight (not curved in too much) - the foot is straight, so the shoe ought to be straight.
* The attachment mechanism (laces, velcro, buckles) should really hold the heel securely in the back of the footwear (the foot should not be able to slip forward in the footwear).
* the heel counter (back area of the shoe) should be robust and stable.
* the footwear should be flexible along the ball of the foot, because this is where the foot flexes.
* Leather and canvas are a better material - they are more durable and can breathe. Man-made materials do not breathe as well, unless they are of the 'open weave' variety. Avoid plastics.
* Make sure that the shoes have curved toe boxes to give the toes more room to move and grow.
* Footwear shouldn't need to be "broken in". If they do, they are either poorly designed or poorly fitted.
* An absorbent insole is helpful, as the feet can sweat a lot - children are really active!
* Numerous retailers specialize in shoes for the child - make use of them!
* Fitting shoes properly in adults is also just as important

3 tips for checking the child's shoe:
There should be a thumb width between the end of the shoe and the end of the longest toe = length is proper.
You should be able to pinch the upper of the footwear between the thumb and forefinger (this can depend on the character of the materials) = width is proper.
Does the footwear fit snugly around the heel and instep? How stable is the shoe when trying to 'pull off' the shoe? = good fit.